Occasions that I quickly associate with The Irish Embassy: after-work drinks, late nights stumbling home, and raucous St. Patrick’s Day festivities. What I don’t typically think of, however, is a business lunch.

Hot House Cafe sits at the corner of Church and Wellington/Front Streets in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. During the summer (well, let’s face it, whenever it’s above five degrees) the large outdoor patio is always bustling, and it’s the perfect spot to grab some libations and escape the crowds during Busker Fest and Woofstock.

Lady Marmalade is one of my favourite brunch spots in the city. (As an aside, it’s also one of my favourite funk songs.) I love the laid-back 70’s hippie commune vibe, and their brunch offering is one of the most unique in the city. Uncommonly for a Toronto restaurant, Lady Marmalade manages to be effortlessly…

It’s that time of year again for the dreary return of resolution-making, diet-starting, gym-membership buying, and budget-following. To celebrate the post-holiday season, I probably should have gone somewhere sensible, and like countless others, ordered a salad to help assuage my guilt from two weeks of non-stop holiday eating.

Crouched at the corner of Bay and Wellington, Ki gives the impression of a massive, foreboding fortress. The flickering fire dancing in sconces lining the smooth black marble walls, paired with the lack of windows only heightens the impression. Even the door to enter the restaurant is gargantuan (I required the assistance of a kind…